FED: NT govt defends axing bilingual education

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-1999
FED: NT govt defends axing bilingual education

CANBERRA, April 27 AAP - The Northern Territory today defended its axing of bilingual
education in remote schools and rejected criticism in an international report as
contradictory.

The Oxfam International network, which includes Community Aid Abroad (CAA), criticised the
NT government for phasing out education primarily in Aboriginal dialects from remote community
schools in its latest report on international education standards.

The CAA today withdrew a statement made yesterday that the federal government had been
criticised in this regard.

"However, Community Aid Abroad believes the federal (education) minister Dr (David) Kemp
can and should force the reinstatement of the bilingual education program for those
communities in the Territory who want it," CAA executive director Jeremy Hobbs said.

NT Education Minister Peter Adamson said the bilingual program had not achieved required
literacy results in the 17 remote communities in which it existed.

"The report contradicts itself in saying that the bilingual program is successful and then
goes on to say much remains to be done because Aboriginal children in remote areas are far
behind the average level of literacy," Mr Adamson said.

"Improving English literacy levels in Aboriginal communities was a high priority of the
1998 education review and the steps being taken now are aimed at doing so."

Mr Hobbs said scrapping the programs was "all about saving money".

"You don't ask little primary school kids to go to school and learn a second language
(English)," he said.

"Those bilingual education programs have operated successfully for over 25 years."

Abandoning bilingual programs might also breach Australia's obligations under the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to protect and respect the right of indigenous
people to appropriate education, he said.

Mr Adamson said the $4 million spent on bilingual programs would be reinvested in remote
Aboriginal schools in the replacement English as a second language programs.

The NT government promoted and supported the teaching of indigenous studies, culture and
language to all indigenous and non-indigenous students, he said.

The federal government has backed the NT government's pursuit of better literacy outcomes
among Aboriginal students.

But indigenous groups have criticised the move as likely to further reduce Aboriginal
participation rates in education and breach their rights under international conventions.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is investigating the NT government's
policy on Aboriginal education in terms of international obligations as part of its review of
remote and rural disadvantage.

AAP rmg/mfh/jnb/de

KEYWORD: OXFAM NIGHTLEAD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.